Comments from Liamlunchtray

Do you know if any of the actual theater still exists behind the storefronts that now front the Rialto building? I was really surprised to find that this building still exists downtown and that I had never noticed before just by looking at it that it was formerly a theater.

I’m curious if the layout of this building changed when it was twinned. I remember going with my folks when it was doing arthouse fare in the early 80’s, but I somehow remember entering from the side of the building and not the front main entrance as you see in the pictures.

Actually, to clarify further, the Walnut Hill Cinemas (aka Cinemas 1-2-3 and Cinema4) were not one in the same as the Woonsocket Cinemas that opened in 1989. Cinema4 was in the same plaza as woonsocket cinemas, but at the other end of the development.

Unfortunately all the other great Woonsocket theaters were long before my time. I grew up in Woonsocket, but I’m only 30 so the Stadium is my only memory of the beautiful old places. I used to love going there on dates when I was younger. It was only a couple bucks to get in and it had great ambiance.

The Theatre was also open showing 2nd run movies during the 1980’s the first movie I can remember seeing there was Star Wars (probably when it was re-released in 81 or 81) and the last movie I remember seeing there was The Little Mermaid in 1989 or so.

To the best of my knowledge Cinemas 1-2-3 and Cinema 4 were one in the same with “Walnut Hill Cinemas”. Cinemas 1-2-3 were located in a lower level of Diamond Hill Plaza opposite across from the Bowling Alley. The were sort of underneath McCarthy’s Department Store. Cinema 4 was located down the road in Walnut Hill plaza, just to the right of Child World. After the Cinemas closed the 1-2-3 portion remained vacant for wuite a few years until they renovated that plaza. The Cinema 4 portion was used as various evangelical church’s until that entire portion of the plaza was raised a couple years ago and a Lowe’s Home Improvement store was built in it’s place. The last movie I remember seeing there was Popeye with Robin Williams.

The Woonsocket Cinemas were built in a former Supermarket next door to Caldor at the far end of the Walnut Hill Plaza away from Cinema4. The Supermarket site has been vacant for quite some time. When they first opened they were quite nice, and it was great for Woonsocket to have first run movies once again.